In a three-two decision, BSA found that side lot ribbon existed even though that portion of the zoning lot was not completely open to the sky. The owners of 846 70th Street applied to Buildings for a new 10ft. curb cut that would facilitate off-street parking in the front yard of their attached home. The home is one of 19 continuously attached homes in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn. Buildings granted the permit, finding … <Read More>
Board of Standards & Appeals
Variance for hotel granted
Owner claimed that lot’s irregular shape and close proximity to Queensboro Bridge entrance ramp limited development choices. Royal One Real Estate LLC applied to BSA for a variance to build a 12-story, 99-unit hotel at 42-59 Crescent Street, an irregularly shaped vacant lot in Long Island City, Queens. During the hearing process, the owner modified and reduced the 35,109 sq.ft. project in order to build a 10-story building with 88 hotel units. The owner still … <Read More>
Variance denied: owner sought commercial use
Owner sought to develop a one-story building on a corner lot formerly occupied by two-story single-family home. The owner of a vacant lot at the corner of Midland Avenue and Freeborn Street in Staten Island applied for a use variance to construct a one-story commercial building. A two-story single-family home formerly occupied the 60 x 87 foot site, which consisted of two separate lots that were merged in 2008.
The owner claimed that the lot’s … <Read More>
Single-family home wins waiver of rear yard rule
Owner during construction was caught by Citywide text change affecting rear yard. In July 2007, the owner of 1291 Carroll Street obtained a permit from Buildings allowing renovations to an existing single-family home located in an R2 zoning district. The plan included a rear enlargement built within 30 feet of the rear lot line. On April 30, 2008, the City Council approved a Citywide zoning text amendment that eliminated from R2 zoning districts the provision … <Read More>
Residence allowed on small lot in M district
Applicant claimed that lot’s small size would not allow a viable industrial use. The owner of a site located in an M1-2 zoning district sought a use variance to construct a two-story residential building. The 20 x 80 foot vacant lot, located at 328 Jackson Avenue, was formerly occupied by a residential building and has never been occupied by an industrial or manufacturing use.
The owner argued that it would suffer unnecessary hardship in developing … <Read More>
Developer wins right to complete Queens hotel
Developer claimed that reduction in hotel rooms due to rezoning would jeopardize franchise agreement. Developer HBC Corona LLC received a foundation permit on July 9, 2008 for its proposed seven-story, mixed-use development providing 100 transient hotel rooms and 63 hotel suites, located at 112-15 Northern Boulevard in Queens. Nearly nine months later the City Council approved the North Corona 2 rezoning plan, changing the site’s C2-4 (R6) zoning to C2-4 (R6A), and putting the proposed … <Read More>